Siege man let out on bail: court

MITCHELL John Clarke claimed he was protecting a Mt Chalmers family when he attacked police with a baseball bat, a court heard yesterday.

Clarke, 42, appeared in Rockhampton Magistrates Court charged with serious assault on police and wilful damage.

Police prosecutor Senior Constable Kay Schick told the court Clarke arrived at the Mt Chalmers home and said he had concerns for the family's well-being.

He reportedly ignored requests to leave and police were called in around 7.30am. When police arrived Clarke allegedly grabbed a wooden baseball bat and hit two officers, punching another in the face and smashed the bat into a police car bonnet.

Clarke refused offers of legal representation but applied for bail, asking if he could stay at his mother's Kabra residence. His mother, at the back of the courtroom gallery, told police she would be happy to take her son under her wing but was concerned about him abusing drugs or alcohol at the residence.

Magistrate Annette Hennessy granted bail on the condition Clarke not be affected by drugs or alcohol while at his mum's house and that he did not make contact with the Mt Chalmers family.

He was not required to enter a plea and will reappear in Rockhampton Magistrates Court on April 29.